Shortly after its first ever order for eBuses in Romania in January, BYD – the world’s leading electric bus manufacturer – has followed-up the milestone with a subsequent order for 20 pure-electric 12-metre low-floor eBuses for the city of Constanța on the Black Sea coast.

The new vehicles, when delivered, will be the first ever electric buses for Constanța City.

This second fleet order in quick succession for BYD follows an initial nine 12-metre eBuses ordered by Transbus Buzău in the Municipality of Buzău last month, providing evidence of a rapid uptake of eMobility in Romania, and also BYD’s ability to build successful long-term partnerships in emerging markets.

City Mayor Mr Vergil Chiteac (left), with CEO of New Kopel Car Import, BYD’s partner in Romania, Mr Tal Lahav at the signing ceremony (right). [Picture source: Constanța City Hall]

Hand-over of Constanța’s new BYD emissions-free eBus fleet is scheduled for early 2022 and will be delivered via BYD’s partner in Romania, New Kopel Car Import. The majority of the vehicles will be built at BYD’s dedicated production facility in Komárom in neighbouring Hungary. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, BYD has consistently achieved its production and delivery schedules for Public Transport Operators across Europe.

BYD is also supplying Constanța’s new fleet with a combination of fast and overnight charging infrastructure, underlining BYD’s world-class capability in new energy management and battery technology, as well as vehicle design and manufacture.

The order contract for Constanța’s BYD fleet was officially signed at Constanța City Hall on the 10th of February, attended by the City Mayor Vergil Chiteac, accompanied by Executive Director Progams & Development Ani Viorica Merla, Project Manager George Lupascu, Bogdan Nita Director of CT Bus Constanța, and alongside Tal Lahav, CEO of New Kopel Car Import, BYD’s partner in Romania, with his colleagues Head of Legal Stefan Ichim and Technical Director Madalin Ene.

During the signing formalities, Mayor Chiteac said, “With the help of the Romanian government, we are taking an important first step towards the long-term future of public transport in Constanța – and a truly sustainable one.”

In January, BYD Europe’s Managing Director Isbrand Ho described how he believed that the initial Buzău order would, “…serve as a template for other Romanian towns and cities to introduce eMobility for their own citizens and to realise the benefits of safe, reliable, comfortable and, above all, clean public transport.” Commenting this week, he added, “eMobility has definitely arrived in Romania. In just two weeks, we have cemented our partnerships with Local Authorities in two major cities in this country. It is only by this positive cooperation – and a combined commitment to building a sustainable future – that we have been able to deliver a long-term eMobility solution.”